The Growing Trend of the Arcade Bar

Back in the 1980s when we were growing up, the arcade was a place children and teenagers went. Roll forward to 2017, and the concept of playing cocktail arcade games is taking on a very literal meaning. In cities across the US, there are increasing numbers of a new type of bar opening up – the arcade bar.

In other words, a bar where you can drink your favorite beer or sip a cocktail while playing your favorite classic arcade games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, and more. Many arcade bars also have pinball machines, air hockey, and other entertaining games.

These bars have been opening up in a lot of cities, but they are particularly popular in Chicago with bars like Emporium Arcade Bar, FTW, Replay Lincoln Park, and more.

Is This a Rekindling of the Golden Age of Arcades?

Most people agree the Golden Age of Arcades started in 1978 with the launch of Space Invaders and lasted until the mid-1980s. The popularity of arcades then started to decrease as games consoles became the big growth sector for the gaming industry. Eventually, the arcade as we once knew it died out.

There have been exceptions to this rule, of course, but arcade bars are the first modern reincarnation of the traditional arcade. They target people who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s so are familiar with arcades and have memories of spending time in them during their youth. In other words, people who like to play arcade games and are now old enough to drink.

There is no one-size-fits-all description for arcade bars, though. Many of them, for example, are not exclusively for adults. Some allow children up to a certain time of the day while others host kids birthday parties.

One thing they do have in common, however, is an attempt to tap into the nostalgia that currently exists for classic arcade games.

That said, arcade bars are unlikely to spark new arcades that don't include alcohol as part of the offering. After all, owners of arcade bars say the games pay for themselves and a bit more, but it’s not enough to run a viable business on just arcade games alone. Even still, the trend is an interesting one to watch, particularly if an arcade bar opens in your city.

Of course, going to an arcade bar is not the only option you have to play arcade games on a full-size arcade machine. In fact, you can even own one, so you can play whenever you want. Check out our range today.

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